Episodic disability refers to a type of disability that is characterized by unpredictable and fluctuating symptoms. Individuals experience periods of wellness and periods of illness. The severity and duration of their symptoms varying over time. This type of disability can be challenging to manage, as it can be difficult to predict when symptoms will occur and how severe they will be.
Examples of episodic disabilities include multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, lupus, and Crohn’s disease. These conditions can affect a person’s ability to perform daily activities, work, and participate in social activities.
One of the unique challenges of living with an episodic disability is the unpredictability of symptoms. A person with an episodic disability may feel fine one day. And the next day experience debilitating symptoms that prevent them from performing their usual activities. This can make it difficult to plan for the future, as it is impossible to know when symptoms will flare up.
In addition, episodic disabilities can be difficult to explain to others. People may be perceived as lazy or unreliable, unable to perform certain tasks due to their symptoms. This can lead to feelings of isolation and frustration.
In our course Web Accessibility, the basics we address more disabilities and how people encounter difficulties using the web.
